The United Kingdom will take on more than 30% of the manufacturing and maintenance work for Saab Gripen fighter jets destined for Ukraine, according to a government announcement that follows a preliminary agreement between Sweden and Ukraine on the supply of the aircraft.
British companies will produce components and support the assembly of the Gripen E/F and Gripen C/D models, the UK government said. The work is expected to sustain hundreds of aerospace jobs at facilities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Sweden and Ukraine agreed in principle on the transfer of Swedish-made Gripen fighters earlier this month. Ukraine plans to acquire up to 20 Gripen E/Fs, while Sweden has offered 16 older Gripen C/Ds as an interim capability.
No formal procurement contract has been signed, Saab confirmed, with negotiations still at the government-to-government stage. The UK’s role is tied to the pre-agreement and will be finalized once a binding deal is in place.
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Under the arrangement, the UK will provide aftermarket support, including maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the aircraft. The government said the work will “boost British jobs” and deepen industrial ties between BAE Systems — which manages the UK’s share of the Gripen program — and Saab.
The Gripen E/F is a multirole fighter based on the first generation of the fighter jet. To date, it operates in Brazil and Sweden, and has also signed contracts with Thailand and Colombia.
The United Kingdom has been a partner in the program since the 1990s, providing parts and engineering services through BAE's former stake in Saab, despite having its own fighter jet rival to the Gripen, the Eurofighter Typhoon.
